Sanitary napkin machine



c. s. JOA

SANITARY NAPK IN MACHINE Oct. 4, 1938.

l e Shets-Sheet 1 Filed D99. 16, 1935 IIIIIII Q ATTORNEYS N INVENTOR IQ4.

Oct, 4, 1938.. c, JQA 2,131,808

SANITARY nAfiKmmAcHINE Filed Deg. 16, 1935 .6 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR'BY #164,61 "aw ATTQRNEY6 Oct. 4, 19331 c. G. JOA SANITARY NAPKINQIACHINE Filed Dec. -16, 1955 a Sheets-Sheet 5' ATI'ORNEY5 Oct. 4, 1938.

C. G. JOA

SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE Filed Dec. 16,1935 GSheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO W 97.BY mm,

ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1938, c. G. m

SANITAgRY NAPKIN MACIHNE Fiied Dec. 16, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 v 'INVENTO7 BIY 7 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct, 4, 1938 Q g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv 2,131,808 SANITARY NAPKIN MACHINE I Curt G. Joa, Manitowoc, Wis.,assignorto Curt G. Joa, 1:10., Manitowoc, Wia, a corporation ofWisconsin I Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,669

33 Claims. (01. 154-49) This .invention relates to improvements inrequired for the operation of the present masanitary napkin machines.chine. I

It is the primary object of the invention to Finally, the amount ofwaste is very materially effect great economies in the manufacture ofreduced in the present device due to the novel sanitary napkins whileimproving substantially cellucotton feed which practically eliminates 5the quality. of the napkins produced. In the faulty pads andconsequently saves not only the machine herein disclosed this objectivehas been pad material but also the much more expensive attained byseveral outstanding features of gauze which has heretofore been wastedwhennovelty including the following: ever a pad has been spoiled in theprevious 1 In the first place, the speed of operation has machine. beenapproximately doubled as compared with In additionto simplification andimprovement previously existing-equipment while, at the same inreliability, it may be stated more specifically time, the quality oftheproduct has been imthat the objects of the invention include theproproved. One of the contributing factors has vision of a novel padmaterial feed; the probeen an arrangement whereby the feed. ofcelluvision of. means whereby the motion of the pad 15 cotton issubstantially continuous. The eliminamaterial and the wrapping materialis continution of the intermittent feed previously employed ousthroughout the machine; the provision of avoids compression anddistortion of the manovel'means for turn and advancing the P d terialand enables a much higher rate of speed the provision of means wherebythe longitudito be maintained throughout the machine. Annally foldedgauze and the pads contained there- 20 ,-.other contributing factor isthe arrangement in are inverted so that the end fold may be made wherebythe pads severed from the cellucotton on the same side of the pad as thelongitudinal web are turned about and spaced by simple mefold; theprovision of a novel gauze cut-oft and chanical means which does notdistort the pads end fold; the provision of a novel stacker; and,

nor get out of order. Another contributing facfinally, the veryimportant provision of means 25 tor consists in the arrangement wherebyan I whereby the need for synchronization of the varientirely newmechanism is employed for cutting ous parts of the machine iseliminated, the work the folded gauze between the pads which have beingrepeatedly timed automatically in its progbeen enfolded therein, thecutting operation ress through the machine to'do away with the .30 beingperformed at high speed without interruptconstant attention of operatorsand thefaulty ing the continuous steady movement of the product alwaysattributable to the impossibility gauze and pads.' Still anothercontributing facof. keeping the various parts of a complex mator. is thearrangement whereby the completed chine in synchronous operation.

I napkins delivered from the machine are auto- In the drawings: 3.5matically piled in stacks and discharged in Figure 1 is a diagrammaticview ir. perspective as proper condition for packaging. illustrating thegeneral relation of the component- In the second place, shut-downs havebeen parts comprising my improved sanitary napkin substantiallyeliminated. Largely contributing machine. to this end is the arrangementwhereby continu Figure 2 isa view in longitudinal section show- 40 ousmotion is substituted for a reciprocating feed. ing that portion of themachine in which the pads 40 Another important contributing factor ismechaare blanked from the cellucotton web and turned nism whereby thecellucotton web is assembled for endwise delivery through the remainingporin the operation of the machine from rolls which tion of the machine.

supply portions of the web in staggered relation, Figure 2a shows amodified blanking :d ie coneach such portion being independentlyreplacestruction in longitudinal section. 45 able when exhausted tomaintain the web of Figure 3is a plan view of the apparatus showncellucotton in continuous feed with substantially in Figure 2. no waste.The simplification ofv the machine Figure 4 is a view partially inlongitudinal secand the reliability of the mechanisms employed tion and,partially in side elevation of that por- ,50 are such as practically toeliminate shut-downs tion of the machine in which the pads are fed todue to breakage or stc ipage. the gauze, the gauze is folded thereabout,the

In' the third place, the mechanisms hereinafter gauze and pads areinverted, the gauze is severed to be disclosed are so fully automatic asto out between the pads, and the first end fold is made.

' down the numberof operators from about five Figure 5 is a plan view ofthe portion of the 56 for prior art machines to the number of twoapparatus shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view in longi- V tudinal section showinga portion of the timing length of the mechanism whereby the pads aredelivered to the gauze.

Figure 7 is a'still further enlarged detail of a portion of saidmechanism in perspective.

Figure 8 is a view in transverse section through the machine showing thecut-off device in front elevation.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the cut-oil! mechanism I shown in Fig. 8. v

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation of a modifled form of feed andcut-off device.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the mechanism shown running clutch used inthe cut-oil. device.

Figures 15 to 19 are views diagrammatically illustrating a completecycle of operations of the die set in the movement of the dies to andfrom each other and their concurrent movement along the path ofcellucotton travel.

Figure 20 is a view in transverse section through the mechanism whichstacks the sanitary napkins for delivery from the machine.

Figure 21 is a view of the stacking and delivering mechanism taken online 2l2l of Fig. 20.

Like parts areidentitled by the same reference characters throughout theseveral views.

It is conventional practice to cut a sanitary napkin pad I! from a webof cellucotton it which may comprise some 36 plies of crepe tissuepaper. I'he web is approximately equal in width to the length of thefinished pad, each successive pad being severed from the advancing endof the web. In the past the web has been fed intermittently and in onepiece. In

ping the machine and without interfering with the production ofacceptable pads. By this one means the present invention overcomes asource of waste which, in the operation of some sanitary napkinmachines, has reached-enormous proportions.

In the present machine the cellucotton web is not compressed ordistorted by starting and stop-- ping its motion. Beneath each ofthecombination webs is a feeding belt 20, at the delivery end of which is aco-acting feed belt 2|. ese belts are in continuous and uniform motionto advance the cellucotton web steadily to the blanking die which cutsthe individual pads from the end thereof. This die appears in detail inFigs. 2 and 3.

Beyond the end of the conveyor 22 the web It receives support from aplate at 22, the end of which rests slidably on the apertured die blocka. This die block is mounted on a carriage u so 7 the die or tablemember accordance with the present invention feed of the web iscontinuous and the.

at substantially the same speed. The total range of movement of thecarriage is only approximately one half ofthe width of the pad or about1%" in the production of a conventional 3" pad.

Guided for movement vertically upon the carriage 24 by means of theposts 33 is an operating head 34 provided with a link 35 which connectsit with crank 36 mounted on the same shaft which carries the eccentric28. Thus, as the carriage moves forwardly with the cellucotton in themanner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the head 34 is being 'moved concurrentlyin a downward direction.

Removably mounted thereon is a punch or die 31 complementary to theaperture II of die member 23 and preferably having a concave lowersurface so that it does not operate simultaneously on all of the marginsof the pad blankv severed thereby. As the carriage advancea'the diedescends until ultimately it passes through the aperture 3|. therebysevering from-the end of the cellucotton web IS a pad or blank havingthe shape of the aperture ii and the die I! and also severing both fromthe web and the blank a roughly triangular piece of waste from bothcorners of the end of the web.

both from the parent web are these outer corners which are left on topof 23 to be removed there from either by the operator of some convenientsuction appliance.

The plunger or die member 81 is preferably made hollow and provided witha knock-out de-' vice at 29 actuated by means of a rod 0, link (I, slide42, pin 43, and'stop 44 to ensure the release of the pad after the diemember 21 has passed through die member 23.

In Fig. 2a I have shown the die member 210 made solid and operatedwithout a knock-out device, its construction and operation beingotherwise identical with the construction shown in Fi 2.

It will be understood that'at the time the die operation occurs, thesupporting die or table 22 is moving with the cellucotton web It and thedie member 21 is not only moving with said web in a longitudinaldirection. but is moving across its path in a vertical direction. Thus,the resultant motion'of die member I! is almost circular and the padsare successively severed from the web without mutilation thereof andwithout the slowing down of the machine, such as is required in theoperation of a reciprocatory feeding device working on paper.

The timing is preferably such that the blanking operation is performedduring the continuance of the concurrent forward motion of carriage 24with the advancing web I 8. such motion I punch die 21 is retractedupwardly out of the path of the web. It is only after the punch dieclears the advancing web that the carriage egins its rearward movementto bring the matrix die 22 beneath the web in registry with the The onlyportions of the cellucotton separated and from the blank I next blankportim. Flu-15 to 19 I6 shorter than chain 49 for a functional reason.Chains 48 and 50 have conveying fingers and ill) 52 correspondinglylocated to engage the pad adjacent both of its ends to propel italongthe' conveyor table 45 while still in a transverse positionthereon. Chain 49 also has conveying fingers at 53, but these are not inregistry with the fingers 5| and 52, so that the pad is initiallypropelled only'by chains 48 and 50;

Immediately beyond the point at which propulsion of one end of the padby chain 50 ceases, the

table surface is provided with an obstruction which may take the form ofa pin 55. Thus the end of the pad originally propelled by chain 50 isnot merelyrelieved of such propulsion; but is positively interrupted asto movement while the other end of the pad continues to be propelled bythe conveyor chain 48 and the lugs 5| thereon. The lugs preferably havecurved terminal ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that they will notdig into the pad as the pad begins to swing'about the obstruction 55upon which it tends to pivot.

The continued movement of conveyor 48 ultimately turns the pads for afull ninety degrees, the distance between each "of the lugs 5| and theobstruction 55 being approximately equal to-the Width of the pad.-. Toensure the longitudinal alignment of the pad with the center line of thetable t5, the. table is also preferably provided.

with a, shallow channel at 56 which is spanned by the pad while itstillremains transverse with respect to the table, and into which thepad ultimately is deposited by its swinging movement about theobstruction 55. l

i As soon-as .the pad drops into the channel 56 it is no longercontacted by the conveyor lug 5| of chain 48, and accordingly it ismomentarily without any means of, propulsion. Almost immediately,however, it is picked up by one of the lugs 53 of theeentral conveyor49; and is thereby discharged from the table 45 on to a smooth metallicchute 51 along which the pad is propelled at high speed by the lowerflight of a high velocity conveyor 58 which ,engages the pad from above.It" will be noted from Fig. 3 that the pads are rather close together asdeposited 'on table 45, and their ends are even closer together when thepads are alignedin trough 56. The high velocity movement of conveyor 58,however, separates the pads at substantial distances in the conveyortrough 51.

Up to this point it is only necessary that the pads be made withsuflicient rapidity, and no accurate timing of pad delivery is required.The

means which delivers the padsin properly spaced position upon-the gauzewill now be described.

Reference is made to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 'I of the drawings, and also toFig. 1.

From a parent roll 50 of gauze, the gauze web 6| is led over the guiderolls 52, 63, 64, and 55, on to a folding table 66 longitudinallychanneled at 61 atthe width of the channel corresponding to that of thepad. The downward. movement of the gauze web about rolls 62 and 63accommodates a pad feeding table 58 having guides 580 between which the.successivepads I5 are discharged from the conveyor trough 51 by belt 58.

The feeding table is slottedv at GM to permit the projection by lug 69of a timing conveyor Hi. If these lugs remain radial with respect to thesprockets 7| about which they pass in withdrawing from propulsiverelation to. thepads, theythe pins 14 remain horizontal and prevent thepropelling lugs 69 from assuming the radial position which they wouldassume if they were fixed to a given link of the chain.

The two lugs 69 of conveyor 10 deliver the successive pads in-pr'operlyspaced relation on to the gauze web 6| in line with channel 61 of thefolding table. Due to this arrangement any discrepancy in the timing ofthe different parts of the machine is corrected at the moment the pad isdischarged on to the gauze, and there is no possibility for a pad toreach the gauze in any way other thanjn a position of proper alignmentand proper spacing.

More or less conventional triangular folding boards I6 and 71 turn theside margins of the gauze web 5| over the pad. The proper feeding ..-ofthe gauze margins across the folding boards 16 and Ti is ensured by aset of controlling rollers 78, the surfaces of which are preferablyknurled forbetter engagement with the gauze. These rollers are mountedrotatably on the ends of arms 79 which are fulcrumed at B0 to suitablesupports at the sides of the folding table and are held locked in theiroperative position by catches engaged with the arms at 8|. Thearrangement is such that there is nothing exposed which could catch onthe gauze or interfere with its smooth feeding over the folding boards.

As the pads leave the folding table 65 they are enfolded between theoverlapping margins of a continuous ribbon 84 of gauze. The spacebetween pads in such ribbon is suficient to provide the necessary freegauze ends for the com-.

Since it is desirable that the ends of the gauze ribbon be folded ontothe same face of the pad on which the free side margins of the gauzehave already been folded, and since the folding operation is conductedbeneath the pad, it isdesirable to invert the pad before cutting thegauze ribbon and folding the ends.

The gauze ribbon 84 and the interfolded pads are drawn from the end ofthe folding table 55 about a pulley 85 having its periphery relieved vor cut away at lit to accommodate the pads so i that they will not becompressed in passing about the pulley. The conveyor belt 87 is inpressure relation to the pulley and the ribbon 8 1 on the unreiievedsurfaces thereof, and furnishes propulsive traction to draw the gauzeand interfolded pads about the pulley.. Beyond the pulley the gauzeribbon and pads are supported on the belt 81 in their movement to theshearing and ribbon has become inverted so that the overlapping marginsoriginally at the top of the ribbon are now at the bottom thereof.

In my Patent No. 1,957,651 issued May 8, 1934, I have described an endfolding mechanism for sanitary napkins which embodies some of the in thefolding of the ends.

principles used in the present device. The present device is, however,modified to incorporate a web shearing device which actually co-operatesThe mechanismis shown in Figs. 1, 5-and 6, and appears in enlarged scalein Figs. 8 and 9.

The flight of supporting conveyor belt 81 upon which the folded gauzeribbon and the enfolded pads are traveling terminates abruptly inpassing about the pulley 89. There is a slight gap between pulley89 andthe pulley 90 over which operates the conveyor belt 9I which is next toreceive the gauze ribbon and pad. This gap is substantially less thanthe length of the pad and the pad is sufliciently rigid so as to tend tobe projected linearly across the gap from conveyor belt 81 to conveyorbelt 9I.

In the gap between the two conveyors is a stationary shear knife 92sufliciently low so that it will easily be cleared by the pad and gauzein their movement across the gap,'but sufficiently high so that thegauze will be supported on the shear bar 92 during the shearingoperation. The shear bar 92 is set at an angle best shown in Figs. 5 and9.

Co-acting with shear bar 92 is a rotary shear mechanism with a step'bystep, actuator.- The rotor 94 preferably has four raalalarms upon whichthe shear blades 95 are mounted. The rotor 94 is adjustably mounted onshaft 96 so that a proper setting of the blades 95 with respect to thestationary shear 92 may be had. The shaft 96 is at an acute angle withrespect to the longitudinal center line of the machine, so that the pathof rotation ofthe blades 95 will correspond to the angle of thestationary shear The shear is normally held with its blades in therelative position shown in Fig. 8 by meansof a dog 91 which engagesnotches 98 in the periphery of the drum-shaped portion 99 of rotor 94.The dog 91 is pivoted at I and has an arm IOI which may be engaged bythe lever I02 of the shear operating mechanism torele'ase the dog inpreparation for their movement.

Lever I02 is connected by link I03 with the arm I00 and a ratchetfeeding device I05 which has clutch balls I08 spring pressed to engageshaft '90 of the rotor in a well known manner. As viewed in Fig.- 14, aclockwise movement of the ratchet actuator I05, however, by arm I02,will first release the holding dog 91 and will subsequently move therotor 90 approximately 90 degrees. This will shear the folded. ribbon ofgauze overlying the stationary shear blade 92,.

* and the rotor will again come to rest in a position conveyor belt. Thesupporting flight of conveyor belt 81 is held at this point by a tableII6 so that it cannot yield downwardly.

Consequently, each successive pad which passes between the supportingtable IIS and the shoe III of switch lever I I5 will simply lift theswitch lever as shown in Fig. 4, thereby completing the circuit tosolenoid H0 and operating the cutoff knife which severs the gauze ribbonahead of the next preceding pad. The switch mechanism I IS, the tableH6, and the switch operating lever II5 are preferably assembled in aunit which is adjustable longitudinally so that the solenoid maybe timedfor operation at any given relative distance between pads.

The moving shear blade 95 obviously enters the moving gauze ribbonadjacent its left hand margin as viewed in Fig. 9. The ribbon is notstopped, but continues in uniform movement dur ing the shearingoperation. The angularity of the shear blades is so determined withreference to the speed of movement of the gauze that as the shear cutprogresses from the left hand side of the gauze to the right hand sidethereof, the movement of the gauze will exactly compensate for the angleof the blades, thus producing a 90 degree transverse cut in the gauzeribbon.

The cut-01f knife 95 shears the gauze ribbon between pads and positivelythrusts the free end I60 of thegauze downwardly in the gap between theconveyor pulleys 89 and 90. As the succeeding pad spans the gap and isengaged by conveyor 91, the free end I50 of the gauze ribbon is drawn upbeneath the pad to complete'the first end fold. The trailing end I 8! ofthe gauze remains to be folded. Co-acting with conveyor 9| to completethe first end fold is an upper conveyor I62. In Figs. 10, 1i, and Ha Ihave shown modified embodiments of this portion of the mechanism,wherein the knife is positively driven in timed relation to theconveying mechanism and a different type of propulsive conveyor is used.

A conveyor table I supports the conveyor belt 81 for a considerabledistance in advance of the pulley 09. Opposed to the portion of belt 81thus rigidly supported, is a propulsive conveyor the folded gauze on tothe belt 81 without compressing the pads. Where the distance betweensuccessive pads is changed a different propulsive conveyor chain I65 issubstituted to have the correct number of pressure blocks to fit thespace between pads.

The stationary cut-on knife 92 may be identical with that alreadydescribed and shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It ispreferably set angularlyacross the path of movement of the gauze to compensate for the timerequired for the cut to penetrate from one side margin of the gauze tothe other, so that the resulting cut will be square. Instead of theplurality of blades driven intermittently, the present cutter comprisesa single blade I69 driven continuously. It is mounted on an arm "0carried by a shaft I'II driven by chain I12, gearing I", and chain I14,insynchronized relation to the gauze feeding means. 'Ihemovable knife isadjusted to the fixed knife by means of an adjustable thrust bearingIlla to which the shaft III is pressed axially under the yieldablepressure of compression spring Illa.

- will engage the spacers between the pads to hold The second end foldis made by mechanism essentially corresponding to that which makes thesecond end fold in the construction shown in the 1 aforesaid Patent No.1,957,651.

, is not described in detail here, but it is diagrammaticallyillustrated in- Fig. 1. The conveyor I63 operates at a somewhat higherspeed than conveyors 9| and I62, and to prevent this increase in speedfrom unfolding the first end fold of gauze; the friction wheel II9 isused between the two conveyors to accelerate the movement of the pad tothe rate of speed of conveyor I63.

. Conveyor II8 has a sharp change of angle at I20 just beyond which, inspaced relation to the belt, are retractable slides I2I whicharecontrolled by a solenoid that is not shown here but is similar tosolenoid I I which operates the cut-off knife.

The switch. lever controlling the circuit to this solenoid is indicateddiagrammatically at I22 in Fig. 1. As the pads and the gauze having itsfirst end fold about the pad are carried by conveyor I63, they areprojected bythe change in angle of theconveyor on to the plates I2Iwhich support the pad andthe first end fold temporarily. The staticwhich causes the adherence of the trailing gauze end I6I to thebeltcarries such end beneath the pad as the pad is supported on the plates I2| and thereupon the engagement of the next succeeding pad with tarynapkin shown at I25 is thendischarged into a stacking device now to bedescribed with particular reference to Figs. 20 and 21.

The curved guides I21 are bands arranged in pairs, the respective pairsbeing spaced the width of a pad, and lead to a trough I28 fromwhich thestacked pads may be withdrawn. At their upper ends the curved guides I21comprise a feeding throat through which the pads may enter between theguides I21 tobe packed therein between theend guides I15. Between theguides of each pair at each side of the throat are chain conveyors I30with projecting arms I3I. The

Accordingly, it 1 upper centers on which the chains I30 operate,

are sufliciently close together so that said arms almost meet at I 32 toprovide a receptacle into which the completed sanitary napkin is dis- 5lugs I3'I gradually withdraw from beneath the napkins, allowing, them tobe deposited between the. fingers I29 which are yieldable and projectinwardly from guides I21 vto offer suflicient resistance to napkinmovement so that the napkins are held in a stack and advanced only'underpressure. X

When the stack builds up suillciently so that the uppermost napkinthereof is engaged by the under'surfaces of the arms I3I prior to theircomplete retraction, such arms will have a feeding movement upon thenapkinsof the stack to force them through the throat until a predet'eremined number of napkins accumulate therein.

Operating over sprockets on thesame shaft I16 which'guides one of thechain conveyors I30, is another chain conveyor comprising chains I18carrying the paddles I80 atispaced points along its -indicated in. Figs.2 and 3 of the drawings.

dle carried by each chain I18 will engage the opposite ends of theuppermost napkin in the stack to propel the stack between guide membersI21 and I15 to the discharge trough I28. Idler pulleys are provided forchains I18 so that they may follow the path of the napkins. One of theidler pulleys I8I is made adjustable as a tightener for the chains I16,the guide members I21 and I15 being flexibly adjustable and adjustablysupported at I82 so that their curve will conform to the adjusted curveof the chains.

The driving connections for the stacker and counter as above described,are clearly shown in Figs. 2() and 21, but need not be described indetail except to say that the driving chain I84 is connected with theactuating mechanism for the remainder of the machine to be driven insynchronism therewith so that the supporting arms I3I will always moveinto registry at I 32 to receive each napkin completed and delivered onthe conveyor I63.

Some of the chain connections preferably used for operating the variousparts of the machine are indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.They will not be described in detail since any operative mechanicaldriving connections may be employed. It is particularly to be noted thatno accurate timing system common :to the whole machine is necessary,since each important operation is synchronized directly with referenceto the pads themselves- As above noted, the spacing between pads isdetermined by the movement of the conveyor 10 with reference to themovement of the gauze. To produce changes in rates of relative movementbetween one belt conveyor and another, I may employ a belt drivingpulley of variable cross section as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Thedriving shaft I42 carries a sleeve I43 having right and left threadedportions with which cones I45 and I46 are engaged. Each cone has aseries of uncut T-shaped slots at I41 in which operate complementaryslides I48 connected by screws I49 with pulley sectors I50. Thesesectors are covered by an elastically contractile pulley covering I5Iwhich spans the joints between the sectors when the latter are expanded.

The chains I preferably have a step by step actuation by means ofsolenoid I34, armature I 35, connecting rod I36, link I31, lever I38,link I39, and a suitable ratchet mechanism I which may correspond tothat which operates the cut-oil: knife. The solenoid I34 may have itsown trigger switch with a trigger at I4I, or itmay be operated from thetrigger- I22 which controls the second end fold.

' Some of the chain connections preferably used for operating the.variouszparts of the machine are will not be described in detail sinceanyoperati-ve mechanical driving connections may be employed. It isparticularly to be noted that no accurate tim- They ing system common tothe whole machine is nec- I essary, since each important operation issynchronized directly with reference to the pads themselves. As abovenoted, the spacing between pads'is determined by the movement of theconveyor 10 with reference to the movement of the gauze. Toproducechang'es inlrates of relative movement between one belt conveyorand another, I may employ a belt driving pulley of variable crosssection as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The driving shaft I42 carries asleeve I43 having right and left threaded portions with which cones I46and I46 are engaged. Each cone has a series of uncut T-shaped slots atI41 in which operate complementary slides I connected by screws I withpulley sectors I50. These sectors are covered by an elasticallycontractile pulley covering III which spans the joints between thesectors when the latter are expanded.

A look nut It! holds the parts in any given adjustment. When the locknut is released and the pulley is turned with reference to shaft I42,the cone-shaped expanders H and I move to or from each other, accordingto the direction of relative rotation. Their movement causes the sectorsIN to move radially inwardly or outwardly, thereby enlarging ordecreasing the cross section of the pulley to control the rate of belttravel with respect to the driving shaft 2.

Since the spacing of-the pads on the gauze is absolutely uniform at adistance depending on the relative rate of gauze movement with respectto the pad feeding conveyor 10, all other operations may be timed withreference to the pads themselves. Thus, the cut-off operation is timedwith the greatest accuracy by means of a switch operated by the nextsuccessive pad. The relative ratio of leading and trailing ends of gauzemay be varied as desired by simply adjusting this switch assemblylongitudinally of the path of pad travel. Thereafter no further timingis necessary until the second folding operation is performed. This,likewise, is controlled with reference to the next succeeding pad of theseries, and is therefore timed entirely independently of the remainderof the machine. The stacking device likewise has its own timing.

I claim:

1. In a machine for the manufacture of sanitary napkins or the like, thecombination with means for continuously feeding a web of cellucotton, ofmeans forblanking pads from said web while the web is in motion, saidmeans comprising a die set mounted for movement along the path of saidweb and comprising guides reciprocable with reference to each other fora cutting operation, a means for simultaneously recipro- I blanking padsfrom the end of the cellucotton web during the continuous advancethereof, means for delivering said pads successively to said gauze inspaced relation, means for folding the gauze thereabout, and -means forsevering the gauze between the pads during the continuous movement ofthe gauze.

3. In a sanitary napkin machine comprising means for continuouslyfeeding the web of filling material, the combination with a die setmovable forwardly and backwardly' along the path of movement of said weband including a female die below the path' of said web and across whichthe end of the web is movable, a male die movable between the retractedposition above the path of said web and an advance position in operativecutting relation to the female die, and means for synchronouslyoperating said die set to and fro along said path while actuating saidmale die between said advanced and retracted positions, said male diebeing actuated to cutting position while said set is moving with saidweb and being actuated to retracted position while said die set ismoving reversely with respect to said web.

4. In a machine for the manufacture of sanitary napkins, the combinationwith means for feeding a web of filling material of pad cuttingmechanism including co-acting dies, means for producing relativemovement between said dies for the severing of web material fedtherebetween, a web support connected for movement with one of saiddies, and means foractuating said dies on the'table to and fro along thepath of web advance in synchronism with the cutting movement of saiddies, said support and dies being in movement with the web during thecutting operation, and means for assembling said web comprising aplurality of parent rolls each carrying a portion of the stock requiredto make up said roll, the several parent rolls being of differing sizes,whereby to stagger the points of termination of their several webportions.

5. A sanitary napkin machine comprising the combination with pad cuttingmechanism, of meansfor feeding a web of filling material thereto, maleand female die means for blanking pads from said web and a source ofsupply for said web comprising a series of parent roll supports, andparent rolls thereon each supplying a portion of the thickness of thedesired web.

6.,A machine for the manufacture of articles from cellucotton, saidmachine comprising male and female die means for cutting blanks from acellucotton web, and means for assembling such a web comprising conveyormechanism, a plurality of parent roll supports, and parent rolls on saidsupports having their output superimposed in said conveyor mechanism,each of said parent rolls comprising a web partially as thick as the webrequired to produce said blanks, and the ends of the component webs ofthe several parent rolls being staggered.

'7. A sanitary napkin machine comprising means for feeding a web ofcellucotton, means for punching blanks transversely from the advancingend of said web, and means for feeding said blanks including means forpivotally turning them individually upon their respective centers whilefeeding them in alignment with the line of feed of said web.

8. A sanitary napkin m'achine comprising the combination with means forfeeding a web of filling material .and male and female die means forcutting blanks transversely from the end thereof, of a blank feedingdevice aligned longitudinally with said web and including means forpivotally turning the blanks successively upon an axis within the areaof the respective blanks from their transverse positions to positions ofalignment with the web and feeding device.

9. A sanitary napkin machine comprising the combination'with a supportfor a web of gauze and means for feeding such a web to said support frombelow, a pad feeding table aligned with said support, means on saidtable for aligning a pad with the direction of gauze feed over i saidsupport, means for discharging pads from said table longitudinally on tosaid gauze web at predetermined intervals, means for enfpldingsuccessive pads in said web, a pocketed pulley in the path of said weband pads, and means for holding the web and pads to said pulley for theintervals thereon, of means for folding the margins of said web oversaid pad. means for severing said web intermediate successive pads,means pocketed. to receive the pads for inverting said web, and meansfor folding the ends of the severed web beneath the pad, whereby saidends intervals thereon, of means for folding the marenfolded pads, andmeans for folding the ends of the web beneath the pads adjacent the faceon which the margins of said web were folded.

12. In a sanitary napkin machine, the combination with means for feedinga web of gauze, of means for feeding a web of filling material,

means for blanking pads from said web of filling material, apad feedingtable adjacent the path of said. web of gauze, means for delivering thepads successively to the table, means associated with the table for thetimed delivery of the pads to the gauze in predetermined spaced relationthereto, means for folding the margins of the gauze severing device, andmeans for timing the operation of said gauze severing device withreference to the position of a pad in the web independently of saidgauze feeding and pad blanking means.

13. The combination with means for making,

sanitary napkins, of a stacking device comprising a set of retractiblesupports, means for discharging sanitary napkins .upon successivesupports, means for advancing said supports along the pathofnapkinmovement and simultaneously retracting them from each other, and a guidein the path of napkin advance upon said supports arranged to receivenapkins upon the retraction of the supports. I

14. In a sanitary napkin machine, a stacker kins on to said supports,and means for actuating said supports concurrently upon said paths,whereby to deposit said napkins in said throat.

15. In a device of the character describedjthe combinaiton with astacker having a throat, of

a series of coacting supports movable along opposite sides of saidthroat upon divergent paths,

means for feeding successive articles on to successive supports, meansfor moving the supports whereby to present a fresh pair ofsupportstoreceive each such article, said throat being sufficientlyresistant to the movement of articles 7 therein to require theinteraction of the supports Y sure through said throat.

16. In a sanitary napkin machine, the combination with a packing throat,of means for de livering the. napkins successively therein and pressingthe napkins therethrough under packing pressure exerted successivelyupon each napkin.

17. The combination with means for longitudinally feeding sanitarynapkins, of a pair of chains flights of said chains are movable in thesame direction upon divergent'paths, corresponding I lugs on therespective chains providing supports they advance, of a'guideway withwhich said fingers communicate, said supports being adapted in releasingthe napkins, supported thereon to thrust preceding napkins through saidguideway.

18. In a sanitary napkin machine, the combination with means for feedinga web of gauze and means for assembling and feeding a multiply web ofcellucotton in the opposite direction, of means for transversely cuttingsuccessive end portionsof the Web of cellucotton during the continuedadvance thereof to separate filler blanks therefrom, means for turningsaid blanks upon their axes and advancing them toward the web of gauzein the general direction of cellucotton movement, means for reversing'the direction of blank movement and delivering successive blanks atintervals upon the web of gauze, means for folding the margins of saidweb of gauze about the blanks, means for inverting the web of gauze andits interfolded blanks, means for severing the foldedv web of gauzebetween the blanks end-folded therein and for folding over said blanksthe severed ends of the gauze, and means .for stacking for delivery thesanitary napkins having pockets registerable with. the enfoldedpads, anda co-acting belt for holding the gauze andpads to the base of the pulleyfor a portion of the rotation thereof, said pads being protected by thepockets of the pulley from the pressure of said holding means.

20. In a sanitary napkin machine, the combination with means for feedinga web of filler and a web of wrapping material upon a common centerline, of a pad blankinghead comprising relatively movable dies, saidhead being bodily movable along said center line, means forsynchronously operating said head and the dies thereof for theblankingof pads from. the web of filler material during the movement of the headwith said web for delivering successive pads in spaced relation on tothe web of gauze,

21. In a sanitary napkin machine, the combination with means for feedinga web of filler and a web of wrapping materialupon a common center line,of a pad blanking head comprising relatively movable dies, said headbeing bodily movable along said center line, means for synchronouslyoperating said head and the dies thereof for the blanking of pads fromthe web of filler tive napkins in the course of their advance, fingersbetween which the napkins are engaged as material during the movement ofthe head with I said web for delivering successive pads in spacedrelation on to the web of. gauze, said conveyor means having a portionbeneath said head, to receive pads blanked from the filler material,said conveyor means including mechanism for ad-' vancing said pads alongsaid center line and concurrentlyturning said pads from positionstransverse with respect to said line to positions of longitudinalalignment therewith.

22. The combination with means for continuously feeding a web of flller'and a webof gauze a ing pads transversely from the advancing end of theweb of filler, means for advancing said pads along said center linewhile turning them into alignment therewith, and means for deliveringsaid pads in spaced relation on to the gauze and enfolding them therein.

23. The combination with means for continuously feeding a web of fillerand a web of gauze upon a common center line, of means for punching padstransversely from the advancing end of the web of filler, means foradvancing saidpads along said center line while turning them intoalignment therewith, and means fordelivering said pads in spacedrelation on to the gauze and enfolding them therein, together with meansfor inverting the gauze and enfoldedpads, means for severing the gauzeintermediate the pads, and folding the ends of the gauze on to the pads.

24. The combination with means for continuously feeding a web'of fillerand a web of gauze upon a common center line, of means for punching padstransversely from the advancing end of the web of filler, means foradvancing said pads along said center line while turning them intoalignment therewith, .and means for delivering said pads in spacedrelation on to the gauze and inverting the gauze andenfolded pads, meansfor severing the gauze intermediate the pads, and folding the ends ofthe gauze on to the pads, said inverting means comprising a pulleypocketed to receive the pads to relieve pressure thereon.

25. The combination with means for continuously feeding a web of fillerand a web of gauze upon a common center line,- of means for punchingpads transversely from the advancing end of the web of filler, means foradvancing said pads along said center line while turning them intoalignment therewith. and means for delivering said pads in spacedrelation on to the gauze and enfolding them therein, together with meansfor inverting the gauze and enfolded pads, means for severing the gauzeintermediate the pads, and folding the ends of the gauze on to the pads,and means for stacking the completed sanitary napkins.

27. The method of making sanitary napkins which comprises feeding a webof flller material, punching pad blanks successively from the end ofsuch web during the movement thereof, feeding a strip of wrappingmaterial, delivering the pad blanks successively upon the movingwrapping material in its first relation, folding the sides of thewrapping material over the pad blanks during the continued movement 'ofthe wrapping material, severing the wrapping material between successivepad blanks, and folding the cut ends of wrapping material on to thefolded sides thereof. a

28. The method of making sanitary napkins which comprises feeding a webofiiller material,

punching pad blanks successively from the end of such web during themovement thereof, feeding a strip of wrapping material, delivering thepad blanks successively upon the moving wrapping material in its firstrelation, folding the sides of the wrapping material over the pad blanksduring the continued movement of the wrapping material, inverting thepad blanks and the enfolding wrapping, material to bring the foldedsides of the wrapping material beneath the pad blanks, severing thewrapping material between pad blanks, and folding the severed ends ofthe wrapping material beneath the pad blanks, whereby to bring allfolded portions of the wrapping material on to the same side of each padblank.

29. The method of making sanitary napkins which comprises feeding a webof filler material, successively severing portions of the end of the webduring the continued movement thereof to provide pads, feeding a webofwrapping ma-' terial, delivering pads to the wrapping material andenfolding them therein during the continued feeding movement of thewrapping material to provide sanitary napkins, and delivering thefinished napkins in a stack.

30. The method of making sanitary napkins which comprises feeding a webof filler material, punching pads transversely from successive endportions of the filler material during the continued movement thereof,continuing the advance of successive pads in the samedirection whileturning them to parallelism with the direction of advance, feeding a webof wrapping material and delivering successive pads thereto, enfoldingthe pads in the wrapping material, severing the wrapping materialbetween pads, and delivering the completed sanitary napkins successivelyupon each other under moderate compression to comprise a stack forpackaging:

a 31. In a machine for the manufacture of sanitary napkins or the like,the combination with means for continuously feeding a web ofcellucotton, of a die set including an apertured die base and a punchreciprocable to and from the base transversely of the path of advance ofsaid web, means for reciprocating the punch in a direction to cut ablank from the web of cellucotton and push the blank through the base,and means a for reciprocating said die set along the path of web advancein synchronism with the reciprocation of said punch, whereby said basewill move with the web during the severing of said blank.

32. In the method of making sanitary napkins, the steps of moving a webof filler material, carrying said web on a support moving therewith atsubstantially the same rate, and punching a blank from the web throughthe support while the support is in motion as aforesaid.

33. In the method of making sanitary napkins, the steps which compriseadvancing a web of filler material, moving a support with the leadingend portion of said web at substantially the rate and direction of webadvance, and successively punching complete pad blanks from theadvancing end of such material out of the plane of advance thereof whilesuch material is in motion and in a direction transverse .with respectto the path of said motion, whereby each successive blank is deliveredtransversely past the said sup-

